Semipontoon floating deck



May 15, 1934. A. A. KRAMER SEMIPONTOON FLOATING DECK Filed March 21. 1931' 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Andrew/ lfmmcr' ATTORNEY.

May 15, 1934. A. A. KRAMER SEMIPONTOON FLOATING DECK Filed March 27. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IA VENTOR. flndrcW/Z lfmmal' BY WF 2 3 ATTORNEY.

May 15, 1934. A. A. KRAMER SEMIPCSNTOON FLOATING DECK Filed March 27, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 fim/w/q/mw a l/KM s an 8 1' /1 LT. NY

ATTORNEY.

May 15, 1934- A. A. KRAMER SEMIPONTOON FLOATING DECK Filed March 2?, 1,9 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

May 15, 1934. A. .A. KRAMER SEIIIPONTOON FLOATING DECK Filed March 27. 1931 SSheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 15, 1934 SEMIPONTOON FLOATING DECK Andrew A. Kramer, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to George D. Beardsley, Kansas City, Mo.

Application March 27, 1931, Serial No. 525,732

4 Claims.

My invention relates to floating decks for tanks, and more particularly to a floating deck provided with a pontoon portion.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a floating deck that is adapted to flt within a substantially cylindrical tank, said floating deck having an outer pontoon, air confining, or buoyant portion and an inner substantially flat portion that has no air confining means.

More particularly, it is a purpose of my invention to provide a floating deck that has an outer peripheral portion that is buoyant even if completely submerged, and an outer portion that is not buoyant when submerged, said inner portion being adapted to receive any water that might fall on the buoyant portion, and being preferably provided with a drain well therein, said drain well being preferably substantially at the center of said floating deck.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide a floating deck of the above mentioned character, in which the buoyant portion has such supporting capacity that the same will prevent the floating deck from being submerged in the liquid upon which it floats, even though the central open portion may be completely filled with rain water or other liquid.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details of structure shown or described,

except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a tank, partly broken away, showing one form of my improved floating deck applied thereto.

shown in conjunction therewith.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, of another form of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a floating deck similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but in which the pontoon portion of the deck comprises a plurality of separate air chambers.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a floating deck similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but slightly modified.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, of the floating deck shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a similar section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a floating deck similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but having the pontoon portion thereof divided into separate airtight compartments, 8. fragment of the side wall of the tank being shown.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 of a deck similar to that shown in Fig. 10, but slightly modified.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a similar section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a floating deck with the pontoon forming portion thereof on the under side of the same, a fragment of the side wall of the tank being shown.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 of a structure similar to that shown in Fig. 14, but having 0 partitions in the pontoon portion.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a similar section taken on the line 17- 1 7 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical section of the air venting means for the deck shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a floating deck, partly broken away, showing another form of pontoon on the under side of the deck.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, partly broken away, and

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 21-21 of Fig. 19.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. 1 a floating deck is shown, which has a body portion 10, made of sheet metal and. being substantially flat, said body portion being made up of any desired number of sheet metal sections joined together to form a liquid tight sheet or substantially horizontal wall lying on the surface of the liquid in the tank, and being mounted upon a 105 framework, comprising the substantially radially extending beams 11, which are secured at the center to a drain well member 12, and at their outer ends to a channel 13, which extends around the outer periphery of the deck, the channel 13 no forming a rim around the deck depending therefrom.

Mounted on the body portion 10 of the deck is an inwardly inclined wall portion 14, having an outwardly directed substantially horizontal flange 15, which is welded to the body portion 10 of the deck to form an air and liquid tight joint between the same, said flange 15, the channel 13, and the peripheral edge of the body portion 10 of the deck being, preferably, welded together by means of a weld common to the three members.

Extending downwardly from the top of the inwardly inclined wall portion 14, is the inclined wall portion 16, the wall portion 16 being preferably made integral with the wall portion 14 to avoid the making of any more joints than are absolutely necessary, and said wall portion 14 being made up of a number of sections arranged side by side, as will be evident from the drawings, but being welded together at their adjoining edges to make what is, in practice, a continuous outer, inwardly and upwardly inclined wall 14 from the upper edge portion of which a continuous wall portion 16 inclines downwardly and inwardly to the body portion 10 of the deck, the lower peripheral edge of the wall 16 being welded to the body portion 10. Thus, a peripheral air chamber 17 is provided, being substantially of an annular shape and being substantially triangular in cross section. The chamber 17 being air tight, thus forms a buoyant, or closed pontoon, portion around the periphery of the deck, and the deck as a whole comprises an outer ring-like or annular buoyant closed pontoon portion and an inner open portion that is pan-like and non buoyant if filled with liquid, which is substantially circular or disk-like in form.

The lower flange of the channel 13, forming the depending rim portion of the deck, has openings that pivotally receive the shoes 18, which carry the gravel baskets 19, and are provided with the water shed or deflector members 21 that engage the apex 20 of the wall of the chamber 17, and are slidable relative thereto, the construction of the sealing means comprising the shoes 18, gravel baskets 19 and water deflecting members 21, being substantially as shown in my Patent #l,767,142, patented June 24, 1930.

The drain well 12 is preferably located centrally of the pontoon floating deck, and is provided with a cover plate 22, having openings 23 therein, and from said drain well 12, a drain line 24 extends to the exterior of the tank in a well known manner, said drain line being provided with a check valve 25, so as to prevent backward flow of liquid into the drain well from the drain line.

The air chamber 1'? formed on the deck by means of the horizontal flat body portion 10 and the walls 14 and 16, serves to buoy up the deck around the outer periphery thereof when the same is floating in the tank in the usual manner, the liquid level in the tank being indicated at 26, and will help to support the weight of the seal comprising the members 18, 19 and 21, and furthermore, will prevent sinking of the deck should undue accumulation of water occur thereon.

Instead of making the floating deck as shown in Fig. 1, the same may be made as shown in Fig. 2, in which the substantially flat body portion 10' of the deck made of sheet metal and welded to provide a liquid tight sheet supported on the surface of the liquid in the tank, and provided with radially extending beams 11 and the drain well 12, as previously described, has the the periphery of the deck, as previously described in connection with Fig. 1. The depending wall portion 16 is welded to the body portion 10' of the deck, thus providing an air chamber 17' that is substantially triangular in cross section, and annular in form, as in Fig. l, but somewhat more rigid due to the vertical wall 16'.

Instead of making the floating deck as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the same may be made as shown in Fig. 3, in which the substantially flat body portion 30 of the deck made of sheet metal and welded to provide a liquid tight sheet supported on the surface of the liquid in the tank, and provided with radially extending beams 11 and the drain well 12, as previously described, has the upwardly and inwardly inclined wall portion 34 provided thereon, which has the outwardly directed flange 35 thereon and has the inwardly and downwardly inclined wall portion 36 secured thereto at a point below the upper edge thereof by welding, as indicated at 31, providing a. flange 32 that extends upwardly a short distance above the junction of the walls 34 and 36 to provide for slidably supporting the water deflectors 21, forming a portion of the seal made up of the shoes 18 and gravel baskets 19 mounted in the same manner as previously described on the floating deck, the rim portion 13 being provided as previously described.

The flange 35 on the wall portion 34, the channel 13 and the deck sheet 30 are welded together at the periphery of the deck, as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. The inwardly and downwardly inclined wall portion 36 inclines gradually downwardly to a point much nearer the center of the deck than in Fig. 1, so as to provide a much larger space beneath the same, said inclined wall portion 36 terminating in a substantially vertically extending flange 38 depending therefrom and welded to the upper surface of the body portion 10 of the deck at 39, thus providing a buoyant chamber 3'7, which serves as a buoyant or pontoon portion for the floating deck, providing an air tight chamber extending circumferentially around the deck at the periphery thereof and inward from said periphery a substantial distance.

The flange 38 defines what may be termed a water pan on the central portion of the deck, said water pan being formed by the flange 38 and the flat body portion 30 of the deck. Normally, water will flow into the water pan or chamber thus formed off of the inclined wall portion 36 of the buoyant portion of the deck, being deflected from above the seal onto said wall portion 36 by means of the deflector members 21, and will flow from said water pan thus provided through the perforated top plate 22 into the drain well 12, and from the drain well through the check valve 25 into the drain line 24, the drain well and associated parts being constructed substantially as previously described.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, an inner pan-like portion is provided on the deck, and an outer ring-like or annular buoyant portion or air tight chamber is provided thereon, this chamber being also liquid tight and thus serving as a ring-like pontoon to support the weight of the sealing means. The chamber 3'7 is preferably made of such size that the buoyant action thereof will be such that even though the pan portion of the deck, located radially inwardly from the vertical wall portion or flange 38 is entirely filled with water, the weight thereof will not depress the deck suiliciently in the liquid upon which it is floating that the deck would be in any danger of sinking.

It is obvious that an air chamber can be provided, by calculation of the weight of the water that would be impounded within the pan-like member referred to, and the weight of the deck itself, such that the buoyant action of the air within the chamber 37 will support the weight of the metal of the deck and the weight of the waterm the central portion thereof, and still leave a sufficient amount of the wall 34 extending above the liquid level that there will be no danger of sinking of the floating deck due to the presence of the water in the said central portion thereof.

Instead of making the buoyant portion or the air chamber of the floating deck of the shape shown in Fig. 3, the same may be modifled as shown in Fig. 4, in which the flat body portion 40 of the deck has the drain well 12 provided at the center thereof and has the peripheral depending channel rim 13, but is provided with no under frame. From said body portion 40, extends the upwardly and inwardly inclined peripheral wall portion 44, welded to the body portion 40, the inwardly and downwardly inclined wall 46 extending to the top surface of the flat body portion 40 of the deck, and being welded thereto at 49, the flange 42 corresponding to the flange 32 in Fig. 3, and the other parts of the floating deck being substantially as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, and bearing the same numerals as the corresponding parts in said figures.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the chamber 47 formed between the walls 44, 46, and 40, is of such capacity that the air therein will have sufficient buoyant action to support the floating deck, even though the pan-like portion formed between the wall 46 and the wall 40 is entirely fllled with water, it being obvious that this can be readily done, as the outer peripheral portion of the deck has a much larger area than the inner portion thereof and thus the chamber 47 will have a much larger air capacity than would be the water capacity of the pan portion that overlies the same, as the water receiving portion of the floating deck will have its portion of least depth at its portion of greatest circumference, and the air receiving portion will have its portion of greatest depth at its portion of greatest circumference.

While the floating deck may be provided with a continuous air space forming a pontoon that is annular in form around the outer portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, this air space can be divided into separate compartments, should this be de sired. There is one advantage to having separate air cells or chambers formed in this annular pontoon portion of the deck, and that is, in case a leak develops, only one of the chambers would be affected. In Figs. 5, 7 and 8 such a construction is shown, the deck being substantially the same as described in connection with Fig. 4 except that partitions 50 are provided, which are shown as extending between the inclined wall 46, the bottom wall or deck sheet 40 and the inclined wall 44, and being welded thereto at 51, 52 and 53 respectively to thus form air tight compartments 5'1 between a pair of said vertical walls or partitions 50 and said walls 40, 44 and 46, the circular series of air chambers or compartments 57 forming an annular pontoon portion extending around the central open topped portion of the deck. Except for the provision of the partitions, the structure of the deck is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 4, and the same reference numerals are applied to the corresponding parts in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8.

The provision of the vertical partitions 50 is desirable also from the standpoint of acting as bracing or stiffening means for the deck, and it is not absolutely necessary that the partitions be welded tight all around to obtain air tight chambers between the adjoining partitions. Thus, the top sheets 46 may merely rest on the partitions instead of being welded thereto, which simplifies the assembly of the device and provides separate compartments in the annular pontoon portion of the deck, which are not disconnected, however, but which permit communication of air between the pontoons in the space that would exist between the top edge of the partition and the inclined top wall portion 46 of the pontoon, as there would be a crack between these parts through which air could pass. Such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 6 and 9, the partitions being indicated by the numeral 50' in said figures and the compartments between the partitions, by the numeral 5'7, the other parts being the same as in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 and are designated by the same numerals as in said figures.

The partitions 50' are welded at 52 and 53 in a similar manner as are the partitions 50 in Figs. 4, 5, '7 and 8, but the top edge 54 of the partition 50 merely supports the inclined member 46 without being secured thereto in any manner. Thus the inclined wall portion 46 is stiffened and supported by the provision of the partitions 50' and the entire outer annular portion of the deck is made much more stiff and rigid than if these partitions were not provided, because of the fact that the same are integrally united with the bottom wall or flat body portion 40 and the inwardly inclined peripheral wall 44.

While the partitions are shown as used with the form of floating deck in which the inclined top wall of the pontoon portion extends down to the main body portion 40 of the deck, yet the same arrangement can be used with other forms of pontoons provided on the outer peripheral portion of the deck, such as the form shown in Fig. 3, for example, this being cited merely as an example, as it is obvious that the other forms shown might also be provided with similar partitions. The type of floating deck shown in Fig. 3, but provided with partitions, is shown in Figs. 10 and 12, and it will be noted that in this form of the invention the bracing members 11 are shown under the main body portion 30 of the deck.

While the framing members 11 are shown in conjunction with the partitions in the type of pontoon shown in Fig. 3, it is obvious that the shape of the pontoon portion above the main body portion of the deck is immaterial as far as this last mentioned feature is concerned, and that the partitions can be made to serve in place of the framing under the deck to brace the same, or may be used in conjunction therewith, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12, no matter what the particular cross sectional shape of the pontoon may be, depending on the size of the deck and the amount of stiileningrequired.

In Figs. 10 and 12 the partitions 60 are welded to the wall portions 34, 36 and 38 and to the main body portion 30 of the deck, the welds between the walls 36 and the partitions 60 being indicated by the numeral 61, and the welds between the wall portion 30 and the partition 60 being indicated by the numeral 62, the parts being similarly welded together at the junction of the partition with the walls 34 and 88 to provide the air tight compartments 67 between the adjoining partitions 60. The only difference between the structure shown in Fig. 3 and in Figs. 10 and 12 is in the provision of these partitions, and the other parts are accordingly numbered as in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 11 and 13 the same type of deck as in Figs. 10 and 12 is shown and the same numerals are applied to the parts that are the same in said figure as in Figs. 3, 10 and 12, the only diiference being in the provision of the partitions 60' between the walls of the annular pontoon portion of the deck, which are welded only to the inclined wall 34, the wall 38 and the main body portion 30 of the deck, these bracing or stiffening the deck in a similar manner to the partitions 50' shown in Figs. 6 and 9, and providing for communication between the compartments 67' on opposite sides of the deck between the top edges 64 of the partitions 60' and the inclined wall 36. This provides a much simpler structure than where the welds must be made in the top wall to obtain air tight compartments for the deck, but has all the advantages thereof except that in case one of the compartments should leak and completely fill up with water or oil, the liquid could pass over the partitions into the next adjoining sections. However, due to the fact that a relatively high wall is provided at 38 the compartments would have to fill with a considerable amount of liquid before any overflow into the next compartment would take place, and the fact that some of the compartments were filled with liquid would soon be noticed due to the fact that the deck would be floating unevenly, and repairs could be made before there was any danger of the sinking of the deck because of a large number of the air chambers being filled with liquid.

Instead of providing the pontoon portion of the floating deck above the main sheet-like body portion of the same, it may be provided on the under side of said body portion, as obviously substantially the same results would be obtained as far as the buoyant action of the air chamber is concerned. Such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 14 and 16, in which the floating deck has the body portion 70 made of sheet metal and being substantially flat, said body portion being made up of any desired number of sheet metal sections joined together to form a liquid tight sheet, or a substantially horizontal wall lying on the surface of the liquid in the tank in a similar manner to the body portion 10 shown in Fig. 1. The outer peripheral portion of the main body portion 70, however, is not in contact with the liquid, as the pontoon portion underlies the same.

The wall portion 70 is provided with a pcripheral rim 71 depending therefrom and shown as being made in the form of a channel, and is also provided with the upwardly extending inwardly inclined wall portion 72 extending peripherally around the deck, the sealing means comprising the shoes 18 and gravel baskets 19, as previously described, having the water shed members 21 engaging the upper edge or 1 inwardly inclined wall portion 72. The flange of the wall portion 72, the wall70 at its outer edge and the upper flange 74 of the channel 71 are welded together to form a liquid tight joint, and in a similar manner an inclined wallportion 75 is welded to the lower flange 76 of the channel 71, and to the under side of the wall 70 at 78 where said inclined wall 75 meets the wall 70.

Thus, an annular air tight chamber 77 is provided, extending around the outer portion of the deck and on the under side of the main body portion 70 thereof, serving as a buoying portion that will aid in supporting the deck, although the portion above the wall 70 may contain liquid that would otherwise be suflicient to sink the floating deck. In this form of the invention means is shown for bracing the deck comprising the channel members 79, which are formed so as to have inclined portions extending under the inclined wall 75 and the substantially horizontal portions extending under the central portion of the deck in engagement with the wall 70, being welded or otherwise integrally secured thereto.

The pontoon, air chamber or buoyant portion of the deck is shown as having a continuous air chamber 77 therein in Figs. 14 and 16, but obviously partitions can be provided at spaced intervals between the inclined wall 75, the main body portion 70 and the channel 71 in a similar manner as in the forms of the invention previously described, and such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 15 and 17, in which the parts are substantially the same as shown in Figs. 14 and 16 and secured together in substantially the same manner, the parts corresponding in Figs. 14 and 16 and in Figs. 15 and 17, bearing the same numerals, the principal difference between the structure shown in Figs. 15 and 17 and Figs. 14 and 16 being in the omission of the underframing 79 and the provision of the partitions 80 between the walls 70 and 75 and the channel 71 to form air tight compartments 77 between the adjoining partitions 80.

The partitions 80 are welded to the channel 71, the main body portion 70 of the deck, and the inclined wall 75, to provide tight joints therebetween, the welds between the wall 70 and the partitions being indicated at 81 in Fig. 1'7, and the welds between the inclined wall 75 and the partitions 80 being indicated at 82 in said figure. The framing or bracing members 79 are omitted in the form shown in Figs. 15 and 17, as these will usually not be necessary where the partitions 80 are provided, as these partitions will stifi'en and strengthen the deck so that the underframing will not be needed, the central portion of the deck being held in its proper shape due to the rigidity and stiffness of the outer annular pontoon portion. In both of these forms of the invention, however, there will be a tendency for an air space to form under the central portion of the deck below the flat wall 70 unless some venting means is provided to permit the escape of air therefrom, such a vent being shown in a general way at 83 in Figs. 14 and 15.

While a liquid tight joint is shown between the partition 80 and the main deck portion 70 in Figs. 15 and 17, it will be obvious that the same bracing action will be obtained, even though no welds are provided at 81, although, of course, the compartments 77' then will not be absolutely independent of each other, as liquid could escape from one compartment to the next in case of a leak.

Instead of providing a framing underneath the pontoon that underlies the main body of the deck as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the framing may be utilized as partitioning means between the compartments of the pontoon portion of the deck. In Figs. 19 to 21 inclusive, such an arrangement is shown, the main body portion or horizontal sheet-like portion 70 of the deck being provided with upstanding peripheral inwardly inclined flanges '72, as shown in Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive, and having the annular channel shaped depending rim portion '71, as previously described, these being secured together in the same manner as described above.

Extending from the drain well 12, which is the same as described in the other forms of the invention, are the radially extending bracing members 84, which are formed so as to have the outer portions thereof gradually increasing in depth. The members 85 are shown in the form of I- beams, although the cross sectional shape thereof is not material, it being, however, desirable that the same are provided with a pair of bottom flanges 86 that are inclined upwardly from the channel '71 to correspond to the inclination of the web portions of the beams 85 and extend substantially horizontally along the portion 84 thereof, the sheets forming the body portion '10 being welded to the top flange 87 of said bracing member, and the inclined wall portions 88 engaging said flanges 86 being shown as resting thereon in Fig. 21 and being welded thereto at 89.

The inner ends of the sheets 88 are turned upwardly at 90 and are welded at their upper edges to the under side of the main body portion 70 to form a liquid tight joint at this point. It will be seen that, with this arrangement, the portions 85 of the bracing members 84, which extend inside the pontoon portion of the deck, form partitions within said pontoon portion, which divide the same into a plurality of air tight compartments 97 that are absolutely independent 01' each other, the members 85 being, of course, welded to the members '11, and the inclined wall portions 88 being welded to form a liquid tight joint between the rim 71 and said inclined wall portion 88. The sealing means and the water'shedding means are the same as shown in the previously described figures, as obviously, the sealing means may be the same in all the different forms of the invention described, or any other sealing means may be used without departing from the advantages of the pontoon construction described, whereby a floating deck is provided that is partly a closed pontoon and partly of the open top pan type. The same air venting means 83 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 is applied to the deck shown in Figs. 19 to 21 inclusive.

Said air venting means is shown more in detail in Fig. 18, and comprises the tubular member 83, which is welded in the deck 70, and the upper end of which extends above the liquid level in the tank when the deck is floating thereon.

What I claim is:

1. A floating deck for tanks comprising a sheetlike body portion engaging the liquid on which said deck floats, said body portion having an inwardly inclined rim portion thereon, and providing a wall of a pontoon portion having a top wall gradually sloping downwardly toward the center of said deck to a point closely adjacent said body portion but spaced a substantial distance from the center of said deck, and water shedding means slidably engaging said rim portion.

2. A floating deck for tanks comprising a sheetlike body portion engaging the liquid on which said deck floats, said body portion having an inwardly inclined rim portion thereon, and providing a wall oi a pontoon portion having a top wall gradually sloping downwardly toward the center of said deck to a point closely adjacent said body portion but spaced a substantial distance from the center of said deck, and water shedding means slidably engaging said rim portion, said pontoon portion having partition means therein secured in liquid tight relation to said body portion of said deck and said top wall to divide said pontoon into a plurality of air tight compartments and brace said pontoon portion.

8. A floating deck for tanks comprising a sheetlike body portion engaging the liquid on which said deck floats, said body portion having an inwardly inclined rim portion thereon, and providing a wall of a. pontoon portion having a top wall gradually sloping downwardly toward the center of said deck to a point closely adjacent said body portion but spaced a substantial distance from the center of said deck, and water shedding means slidably engaging said rim portion to provide a top surface for said pontoon portion free from obstructions and defining an open topped central deck portion free from obstructions on the top surface thereof, and drainage means for said deck associated with said open topped portion.

4. A floating roof comprising, a substantially flat central portion of substantial proportion, said portion having attached to its periphery a pontoon including two upwardly converging walls joined at the top to form a pontoon substantially triangular in cross section with the apex at the top.

ANDREW A. KRALIER. 

